You Have Been Defended [EN]: Chapter 446

#447

As Kang Soo-il had said, the Japanese Embassy hastily sent an invitation when Kang Min-jae expressed his intention to attend.

They were so worried that Kang Min-jae might not receive it and be unable to attend that the embassy even sent someone in person.

So, Kang Min-jae put on a neat suit for the party for the first time in a while and stepped into a hotel located in Namsan.

Kang Min-jae took a deep breath and called Cha Joo-han.

He felt like he needed to hear some words of encouragement.

“Attorney, I’m going in now.”

─ Do well.

“I don’t like attending these kinds of events, but what can I do? It’s for the greater good… But I’m scared of the articles that might come out. What if our image gets tarnished?”

Kang Min-jae’s worries were not unfounded.

Outside the hotel, it seemed like every news outlet had turned out, with news vans lined up one after another.

Kang Min-jae, whose face had already become widely known due to the recent state funeral, would be heavily criticized if he were photographed by reporters, with comments like, ‘How can the grandson of President Kang Kwan-woong celebrate the Emperor of Japan’s birthday?’

─ Try to sneak in unnoticed.

“I was thinking of not entering the venue and just hanging around the perimeter, then approaching Kim Mi-ja when she comes out. Is she not going to the restroom even once?”

─ She might not. Are you worried about getting criticized?

“I don’t mind being criticized, but I don’t want my grandfather and you getting caught up in it.”

─ The criticism will be temporary. And people might have forgotten your face. There was a brief moment of attention back then, but after that, people haven’t really been staring at you outside.

“That’s true, but… What good is it if our image gets tarnished? Aren’t we just giving them an excuse to criticize us later? Should I just tell Soo-il hyung [older brother/trusted male friend] to go alone?”

─ Did Chief Kang go with you?

“Yes… I thought we might need someone who’s good at Japanese.”

Kang Soo-il, who was standing next to him, put his hand on his chest and asked, “Me?”

Kang Min-jae nodded lightly and glanced at the banner near the hotel entrance that read, ‘What’s with the Emperor of Japan’s birthday party in the heart of Seoul?’

From the moment Kang Soo-il told him that he had been referring to the Emperor of Japan as ‘Tenno-sama’ [a highly respectful title for the Emperor] throughout his conversation with the embassy, he had felt uncomfortable, and seeing that banner made him feel even more guilty.

Is this how those who pretended to be pro-Japanese during the Japanese colonial era felt in order to fight for independence?

Compared to them, what he was doing didn’t even come close…

“But in the end, my decision will be patriotic, right?”

He hadn’t set out to catch Wooshin with great patriotism, but considering Wooshin’s behavior, wouldn’t it be fair to call it patriotism?

Kang Min-jae tried to justify himself.

─ Well, unintentionally, it might lead to that kind of result.

“Then I’ll become an independence activist pretending to be pro-Japanese.”

─ Is it that extreme?

“…With a similar mindset.”

─ Don’t worry. You always do well when you’re faced with a situation, even if you worry beforehand.

“That’s what I wanted to hear. I’ll contact you when I leave the venue.”

Kang Min-jae hung up the phone and calmed himself down.

If his attendance became known, he would be met with all sorts of criticism, but he believed that someday, when the whole situation was revealed, people would understand his heart.

“Don’t worry too much. Especially about the elder [referring to his grandfather].”

“Still, if it gets out that his grandson is going to a place like this, even those who supported Grandfather might criticize him…”

“Then stick close behind me so your face isn’t visible. People don’t really know my face.”

“Yes…”

Kang Min-jae hadn’t even entered the lobby yet, but he was already clinging to Kang Soo-il’s back.

Since it was a place frequented by figures from the political and business world, and it was an event that directly targeted anti-Japanese sentiment, there was even a security checkpoint like the ones you see at airports, probably out of concern for terrorism.

He couldn’t help but think, ‘Why bother doing this in our country with all this worry…?’ but he had already thought about it too much, and it only ended in anger, so he decided to stop.

“May I see your invitation?”

When they arrived at the entrance to the venue, the guards controlling the entrance politely requested.

He had arrived a little earlier than the event’s start time, anticipating that Kim Mi-ja might leave early, and perhaps because of that, there weren’t many reporters flashing their cameras.

The reporters who were trying to take pictures didn’t seem to recognize Kang Min-jae, and they didn’t seem to care much about Kang Soo-il’s appearance.

After confirming the invitation, the guards welcomed them and pinned flowers on their chests, and Kang Min-jae fled into the venue.

Inside the venue, there were many people wearing suits and kimonos.

It was still a quiet atmosphere, perhaps because not all the attendees had arrived yet.

Having heard that invitations were also sent to reporters, Kang Min-jae kept his head down, thinking about the possibility of being discovered by them.

It wasn’t like he had a face that people wouldn’t recognize anywhere, but he secretly thought it was fortunate that he didn’t have the kind of looks that would make people exclaim, ‘His face is insane!’ like Cha Joo-han.

Of course, that was just his subjective opinion.

“Kang Attorney?”

Just then, someone spoke to him from the front.

Kang Min-jae cautiously raised his head.

It was a member of the opposition party whom he had met through Yoon Won-hyung, the CEO, when he worked at Taekwang.

“Ah, hello.”

“I didn’t expect to see Kang Attorney here. It’s been a while.”

“…Haha, yes.”

“I paid my respects at your grandfather’s wake, do you remember?”

Kang Min-jae hesitated to answer his question.

He was quickly scanning his memory to see who he had met at the wake.

In fact, he didn’t remember who he had met very well back then.

He had been focusing all his attention on holding back the tears that seemed about to pour out, so he didn’t have the mental capacity to remember who came, except for those who were extremely close to him.

“Ah, yes. Thank you for coming. I should have contacted you separately, but I was too preoccupied and missed it.”

“No, it’s okay. How could you contact everyone individually after such a big event? There are many people I’d like to introduce you to, but it seems they haven’t arrived yet.”

He looked around and clicked his tongue as if he was disappointed.

The people Kang Min-jae should be introduced to were all in the ruling party, and none of the ruling party members would attend the Emperor of Japan’s birthday party.

Just when he thought it was time to get away from this person and find Kim Mi-ja, Kang Soo-il intervened.

“Assemblyman, hello.”

“Ah, you are…”

He seemed busy trying to remember who Kang Soo-il was.

Kang Soo-il took the opportunity to wink at Kang Min-jae.

It meant to quickly go find Kim Mi-ja.

From then on, Kang Min-jae diligently roamed around the inside of the venue.

Of course, he didn’t go near anyone who looked like a reporter.

“Min-jae.”

After searching inside for a long time, the venue began to fill up with people, and it was becoming difficult to find Kang Soo-il at a glance.

“Ah, hyung.”

“I don’t think Kim Mi-ja is inside, so I’m going to hang around the entrance and check. I’ll call you as soon as I find her.”

“Okay.”

They split up again to search, and a lot of time passed.

Since the Emperor of Japan’s birthday party was being held even in foreign countries, he thought there would at least be a thank-you message from the Emperor, but there wasn’t.

The Japanese Ambassador to Korea simply gave a few congratulatory remarks from a podium set up in front of a hanging picture of what appeared to be Mount Fuji.

As he checked each of the guests, he saw a few familiar faces.

The father-in-law of Go Sang-jun, the owner of Iljung Ilbo, also made an appearance.

Seeing him shaking hands with the Japanese Ambassador to Korea with a bright face and chattering away in Japanese, it was the height of absurdity.

‘Ugh, I need to find her quickly and get out of here.’

Kang Min-jae sighed and looked around again, and then his phone rang.

“Yes, hyung.”

─ I found Kim Mi-ja. She just entered. I’m watching her, so let’s talk to her when she’s separated from her husband.

Hanging up the phone, he looked towards the entrance, and sure enough, Kim Mi-ja, dressed in a kimono, was entering with her husband.

From then on, Kang Min-jae followed Kim Mi-ja around without being obvious.

They exchanged greetings with several guests and often laughed loudly.

Kim Mi-ja, who didn’t seem to leave Oda Satoshi’s side and went around greeting people, looked happy when her story was excluded.

He wondered if she would even cooperate with them.

“Uh…”

After following her around like that, Oda Satoshi finally started to act on his own.

Kim Mi-ja handed empty glasses to the hotel staff carrying champagne and juice and wandered around the buffet.

She seemed to be checking if there was anything worth eating.

Kang Min-jae quickly approached the buffet table.

And after waiting until there was no one nearby, he approached Kim Mi-ja, who was picking up finger foods with tongs.

“Hello.”

And he greeted her in Korean.

Kim Mi-ja looked at him, slightly flustered, but soon smiled gently and replied.

“Yes, hello. I don’t think we’ve met before.”

It was her way of saying, ‘Why did you speak to me first without introducing yourself?’

“I’m Kang Min-jae, an attorney at Jeongdo Law Firm.”

“Ah… Yes. Nice to meet you. I’m,”

“Kim Mi-ja. Right?”

When her Korean name was called, she visibly began to panic.

The gentle smile that had been on her lips disappeared, and a wave of wariness washed over her eyes.

“I have something to tell you in private.”

“I’m sorry, but I think it would be better to do it next time.”

“You forged your academic record, didn’t you?”

“…”

“And you also run a *yojo* [a type of establishment, often associated with prostitution] where prostitution takes place, right? Your husband, as well as Japanese political figures, frequent it a lot.”

Kim Mi-ja dropped the tongs she was holding.

They collided with the plate containing the finger foods, making a clanging sound, but fortunately, it didn’t attract attention.

Kang Min-jae picked up the tongs that had fallen on the floor, placed them on the table, and smiled.

“What do you want?”

Kim Mi-ja asked, hiding her trembling hands in her sleeves.

Kang Min-jae handed her his business card.

“I’d like to talk to you separately.”

“Why should I do that?”

“I think you know the reason better than I do.”

“…”

“Please contact me to set a date and time. Preferably without your husband knowing.”

“I, I’m leaving for Korea on a flight tonight.”

“You can change your schedule. It’s not difficult.”

“…”

“I’ll wait until midnight tonight. No longer than that. If you don’t contact me, I don’t know what will happen… I think you know better than I do.”

Threats don’t have to be long.

Kim Mi-ja had been worrying and worrying about this moment since she decided to live as Oda Tomiko.

Perhaps she had been having nightmares every night where that worry became a reality.

“Then, I’ll be waiting for your call.”

Kang Min-jae nodded slightly and turned around to leave the venue.